READ: 1
PETER 1:1-16
The
Scriptures reveal that certain Bible characters walked with God in such an
exceptional manner that they were referred to as friends of God or a man after
God’s heart means a lot. It takes a lot to be a friend of the Almighty. Your
level of holiness must be acceptable to God. You must be addicted to prayer.
Fasting should be an integral part of your lifestyle. You life must also be
characterised by humility, obedience, faithfulness, goodness and the desire to
dig deeper into the well of grace and righteousness. The things that touch the
heart of God must also touch your heart. Abraham, Moses and David were friends
of God. There are also categories of friends. There is a friend like Judas
Iscariot. When Jesus was here on earth, He had a special friend and apostle in
John (John 13:21-26). It is possible to be a favourite of God. Your attitude as
a Christian depends on how close you want to God.Your prayer level reveals your
closeness to God. If you are a friend of God, you will pray from the depth of
your heart. Often, we need to cry to God and pour out our hearts to Him. In
Psalm 120:1, David said: “In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He
heard me.” In Psalm 77:1, the Bible says: “I cried out to God with my
voice-to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me.” Whenever you cry to
God, He will hear you. It is your sin and refusal to repent that can prevent
Him from hearing. God will hear you and He will respond. In Jeremiah 33:3, the
Bible says: “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty
things, which you do not know.” In Psalm 34:17, the bible says: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD
hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Who are the people that God will
answer? Psalm 34:6 says: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him,
and saved him out of all his troubles.” You do not have to be rich for
God to hear you. All you need is righteousness. When you are righteous your
prayer will receive prompt attention. God will hearken to your voice as a man
hearkens to the voice of his bosom friend.
MEMORIZE:
PSALM 34:17 –The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all
their troubles.
